Our research focuses on the control of renal hemodynamics at the microcirculatory level. Physiological and pharmacological influences on renal vascular resistance vessels are investigated using up-to-date videomicroscopy techniques that provide direct access to pre- and post-glomerular microvasculature. Application of these techniques permits direct assessment of renal microvascular function and microvascular responses to selected experimental manipulations. Of particular interest is the role of renal P2 receptors in controlling pre- and post-glomerular resistance and their effect on renal hemodynamics and autoregulatory control. We also examine the impact of hypertension, diabetes and inflammation on renal function, renal microvascular function and renal injury. In conjunction with these studies, we investigate the calcium signal transduction pathways utilized by vasoactive agents to modulate renal microvascular resistance. Experiments are performed using intact renal microvascular segments as well as with single vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from preglomerular microvascular elements. The ability to define intracellular responses such as ion fluxes or second messenger systems in vascular smooth muscle cells may permit us to better explain the behavior of renal microvessels in an intact system and offer clues toward explaining abnormal function in disease states like hypertension and diabetes.
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Guan, Zhengrong, Jennifer S. Pollock, Anthony K. Cook, Janet Hobbs and Edward W. Inscho. Effect of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) blockade on the myogenic response of rat juxtamedullary afferent arterioles. Hypertension, In Press, July 24, 2009
Inscho, Edward W., Anthony K. Cook, Li-Ming Jin and R. Clinton Webb. Rho-kinase inhibition reduces pressure-mediated autoregulatory adjustments in afferent arteriolar diameter. American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology 296: F590-597, 2009
Elmarakby, Ahmed A., Jeffrey J. Olearczyk, Aarthi Sridhar, Jeffrey E. Quigley, Anthony Cook, Edward Inscho, David M. Pollock, and John D. Imig. Chemokine receptor 2b blockade decreases renal NF-kappa B activity and improves auto-regulatory responsiveness in salt-sensitive hypertension. Hypertension 50 (6): 1069 - 1076, 2007
Rivera, Ian, Shali Zhang, Barry Fuller, Brentan Edwards, Mario B. Marrero and Edward W. Inscho. P2 receptor regulation of [Ca2+]i in cultured mouse mesangial cells. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology: 292: F1380-F1389, 2007
Schneider, Markus P., Edward W. Inscho and David M. Pollock. Attenuated vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin in afferent arterioles during a high salt diet. American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology, 292:F1208-14, 2007
Inscho, Edward W., Anthony K. Cook, John D. Imig, Catherine Vial and Richard J. Evans. Physiological Role for P2X1 Receptors in Renal Microvascular Autoregulatory Behavior. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 112: 1895-1905, 2003
Chapters and Reviews
Guan, Zhengrong, David A. Osmond and Edward W. Inscho. P2X receptors as regulators of the renal microvasculature. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 28 (12): 646–652, 2007
Purinergic factors regulating renal microcirculation. Inscho, Edward W. The Renal Microcirculation. In The Handbook of Physiology: Microcirculation. Edited by Ronald F. Tuma, Walter N. Duran and Klaus Ley. Elsevier, San Diego, Calif., pp550 – 683, 2008
Inscho, Edward W., Mysteries of Autoregulation. Hypertension, 53: 299-306, 2009
